Fayetteville Council to feature only 1 contested race this fall

Post 2 Councilman Joe Clark will face Cathryn Vaught in the only contested race for three posts on the Fayetteville City Council.

Incumbent Mayor Ed Johnson and Post 1 incumbent Darryl Langford face no opposition to their re-election Nov. 7.

Clark is completing his first term on the council. He defeated incumbent Kathaleen Brewer in a runoff Dec. 3, 2019. He previously served on the Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission.

Vaught, Clark’s opponent, has been active in the Fayette Republican Party, while Clark has been active in the Fayette Democratic Party. The city post is officially nonpartisan.

Military veteran Langford defeated incumbent Harlan Shirley Nov. 5, 2019. Langford was the second African-American to be elected to the Fayetteville Council, and is unopposed for his second term beginning next year.

Incumbent Mayor Ed Johnson was the first, first being elected to a council post and then becoming mayor. Then-Councilman Johnson defeated incumbent Mayor Greg Clifton Nov. 3, 2015. Johnson was unopposed for his second term, which concludes Dec. 31 this year, and is also unopposed for his third term that will begin Jan. 1, 2024.